Why Spray Tans Turn Orange (And How Professional Spray Tanning Prevents It)

One of the most common things I hear from clients is this: “I’m terrified of looking orange.”

And I understand why. Many people have had spray tans that looked streaky, overly warm, or simply unnatural. The truth is, when spray tanning is done properly, it should look like you’ve just returned from somewhere sunny, not like you’ve been sprayed.

At Queen Bee Salon & Spa in Los Angeles, Dallas and Seattle, our custom airbrush tans are designed to create natural color that works with your skin tone, never against it. The secret comes down to formula, technique, and training.

The Science Behind a Spray Tan

Spray tanning works because of an ingredient called DHA (dihydroxyacetone). DHA reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of the skin to create a temporary bronzed tone.

At Queen Bee, the DHA used in our solutions is derived from French sugar beet, which is widely considered one of the cleanest and most stable sources used in professional tanning formulas. When applied correctly, DHA develops gradually over several hours to create natural-looking color. But when application is incorrect, that’s when things can go wrong.

Why Spray Tans Turn Orange

One of the biggest myths in spray tanning is that more solution equals a darker tan. It doesn’t.

In fact, oversaturating the skin with spray tan solution can cause the opposite effect. When too much DHA or cosmetic bronzer is layered onto the skin, the skin can only absorb so much. Excess solution sits on the surface and develops unevenly, which is when tans can appear too warm, muddy, or orange.

Overapplication can also cause:

• streaking
 • uneven development
 • patchy fading

A beautiful spray tan is about precision and balance, not layers.

Why Custom Spray Tanning Matters

At Queen Bee, we never approach spray tanning as a one-size-fits-all service.

Every client’s skin tone, undertone, and skin condition are different. That’s why our spray tan artists customize the solution for each client so the color develops naturally with your skin.

In Los Angeles especially, many of our clients work in film, television, and entertainment, and the last thing they want is to step onto a red carpet looking like they’ve had an obvious spray tan. We’ve all seen those photos where the tan picks up far too orange under bright lights. Our clients come to us because our reputation is built on delivering a glow that looks believable, elegant, and camera-ready.

Training Makes the Difference Anyone can buy a spray tan machine and delivering a beautiful spray tan consistently is something else entirely.

Our spray tan artists spend significant time training in:

• solution selection
 • undertone correction
 • skin preparation
 • precise airbrush technique

Because the goal isn’t simply applying solution, it’s creating even, natural color that fades beautifully.

The Queen Bee Way
At Queen Bee Salon & Spa, spray tanning is treated like any other professional service we offer, with skill, training, and attention to detail.

For nearly two decades we’ve helped clients achieve natural-looking color at our locations in:

Los Angeles (Culver City)
Dallas
Seattle

A great spray tan should never look like a spray tan. It should simply look like you’ve spent a long weekend somewhere fabulous.

And that’s exactly what we aim to deliver.

Written by Jodi Shays, Founder of Queen Bee Salon & Spa